Co-Curricular
Showing Up and Stepping into Finals
As we move through the final stages of the winter co-curricular season, it is timely to acknowledge the wonderful commitment, effort and pride shown by our students across a busy and rewarding week of competition. Round 10 marked the end of the regular ISA winter season for many of our teams, while a number of students now turn their attention to semi-finals, grand finals, presentation evenings and the beginning of new opportunities through athletics.
Across the College, there has been a real sense of momentum and connection. Our students have represented St Patrick’s with determination, resilience and respect, whether on the football field, rugby pitch, tennis court, chess board or through the broader cultural life of the College. It is this balance of sport and culture that continues to make co-curricular life such an important part of who we are as a community.
Weekend results have now shaped the semi-final and grand final pathways for a significant number of our winter teams. In Football, seven teams have progressed directly to Grand Finals, with a further 14 teams competing in semi-finals this week. In Rugby, the 14 A and 16 A teams have also secured places in their ISA Grand Finals following strong semi-final performances in Bathurst. Our Tennis program also completed Round 10 with strong results against Redlands and Oxley College, with the Second IV, Division 3 and Division 4 now preparing for the ISA Tennis Finals this Saturday at Blacktown Tennis Centre.
These outcomes reflect the commitment, effort and resilience shown across the season by our students and coaches. We congratulate all teams who continue their finals campaigns and wish them every success as they represent the College in the coming weeks.
A special mention must also go to our Rugby group who travelled to Bathurst over the weekend. In particular, we acknowledge the First XV and our Year 12 players, many of whom played their final game of rugby for the College. While the score was not in their favour, the quality of effort, commitment and desire was plain to see. Their performance highlighted the pride they have in their team, the College and themselves. They should be very proud of what they have achieved this year, and we are equally proud of the way they have represented St Patrick’s College throughout the season.
The Junior School winter season also concluded with excellent results across the codes. Six Junior School football teams completed the season undefeated, while another nine teams lost two games or fewer across the season. We also wish Samuel U (Year 6) all the very best as he represents at the School Sport Australia Championships in Ballina as part of the NSWPSSA Rugby League team.
In Chess, our Junior A team travelled to Sydney Grammar School for the semi-finals. While the boys were unable to progress, they represented the College admirably and showed determination, resilience and excellent sportsmanship. This brings the formal Chess season to a close for 2026, and we congratulate all students who represented SPC throughout the year. A special mention goes to Cormac W (Year 7), who scored our only points for the round with a tie. Chess will continue through the Library Games, and planning is also underway for the Chess and Cheese Presentation Evening in Week 8, on Tuesday 8 September at 5:30 PM.
As we celebrate these achievements, it is also important to reflect on one of the core lessons of co-curricular involvement: the importance of showing up. Commitment to a team, ensemble, activity or program is a critical part of building strong and positive values. Each student has a responsibility not only to himself, but also to his teammates, coaches, the College and the opposing school. When students commit to an activity, their presence matters.
Turning up, being prepared and fulfilling commitments are simple but powerful ways of showing respect. Not turning up without appropriate communication lets others down and impacts the experience of teammates, staff and opposition schools. It is also inconsistent with College expectations and, more importantly, with the values we seek to build in our young men. Being a positive contributor to St Patrick’s means being reliable, respectful and willing to play your part, even when it is not always convenient.
Looking ahead, the Athletics season is now well underway, with training continuing strongly as students prepare for the upcoming athletics meets. We look forward to seeing our team compete in a fortnight’s time and are excited by the commitment, energy and potential already being shown at training.
There is still much to look forward to in the coming weeks, with semi-finals, grand finals, athletics meets and winter presentation evenings providing opportunities to celebrate effort, growth and achievement. Congratulations to all students who have represented the College throughout the winter season, and thank you to our coaches, staff, parents/carers and families for the work that happens behind the scenes each week to make these opportunities possible.
We wish all students competing and performing in the coming weeks the very best and look forward to seeing the Blue, Black and Gold represented with pride.
Lachlan Fear
Director of Co-Curricular